Marián Franquet, Councilor for Social Action of the Cabildo, responds to the manager of the Hogar Santa Rita, Tomás Villar, for his criticism of the Island Corporation in the sense that there were 27 unoccupied public places: «We stopped paying three months for unoccupied places , but December has already been paid and in a few days the same will be done with January and February. He adds that all the agents involved, “unions, relatives and we ask this man to step aside, because he has shown a lack of transparency and deficiencies in the management of the center.”
“Month after month we hear the same excuse,” adds Franquet, who recalls: “In Santa Rita an intervention had to be made after discovering things as serious as that this man, with all the presumption of innocence, is being investigated for reckless homicide.” From that intervention, he explains, «the IASS began to work to improve the quality of service to people. We decided not to make more income until we were clear about that quality. We got something as basic as a nutritionist.”
During 2021, he continues, “we had a significant number of unoccupied places. Because many people did not want to go there because of what happened during the covid-19 and because the pandemic itself prevented entry.
It relates that «a significant number of places were paid for a year without being occupied. When we realized, because we have the obligation to manage public money well, they stopped paying for three months until the serious deficiencies were corrected. Sentence: “For a year they were charging for those unoccupied places, when they had less expense.” The counselor underlines: “They charged more than a million euros and not receiving about 300,000 for three months meant an economic loss. It is the only entity, and we work with many, to which this happens in Tenerife».
Franquet explains that «December has already been paid; January and February, this week, like the rest of the entities. They all have economic forecasts, except Santa Rita ». This, in addition, “has income from the town halls, from their private squares and from donations.” He points out that “I can’t say anything about the latter, because they do not allow the Board of Trustees to enter the Cabildo.” A body made up of nine people “selected by the manager. He reflects: «The general meeting was prevented from entering and we have not been able to speak with the employers. There is a lack of transparency.”
“Unions, family members and the Cabildo ask the manager to step aside, because he does not seem like the most appropriate person for the management of Santa Rita,” sums up Franquet.
The counselor understands that “(Villar) attacks the IASS to hide its deficiencies and its incompetence to manage such an important center.” Franquet concludes: «The doors are still open to contribute to good management, to the tranquility of families, to adequate care for all people with an IASS or private position and for workers to be able to get paid at the end of the month”.
«Let us enter the Board of Trustees»
Pedro Martín, president of the Cabildo, wonders “why the Cabildo cannot enter the Board of Santa Rita”, in response to his manager, Tomás Villar. “We want to be there to find out what is happening and if there is something to claim that they do it there, in the best possible forum,” he adds. But “we are not allowed to enter, or give an opinion or make decisions.” Nor are “the proposed transparency or management protocols accepted. No council.” He remembers: «We pay sixty days. December is entered and Santa Rita does not depend exclusively on the Cabildo, it is not a center of the Cabildo ». He assesses: “When we entered the insular government, more than eight months were owed and now we pay regularly.” Regarding the supposed vacant public places (27) he explains: «There are people who do not want to go to Santa Rita. It was the only center intervened during the pandemic to be able to reach a good port. Speaking to Radio Club Tenerife, he concluded: “There is much to improve in Santa Rita and we offer ourselves, because the IASS has a lot of experience. The question I ask myself is if the manager is the right person to be in charge of that institution”.
